Results tagged “miracleonthehudson”

With Miracle on the Hudson pilot Captain Chesley Sullenberger back in the air, of course there's some grumbling. The Post suggests, "Wimpy US Airways bosses feared... Sullenberger might not be able to hack the media glare of what they billed as his 'return to the air' yesterday," so they had him fly three other flights for prep. A US Airways spokesman explained, "We didn't want to put too much pressure on the guy." Of course, the Post probably has sour grapes since the Daily News was included on one of the earlier flights.

With all the hubbub about Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger making his long-awaited return to the skies after his miraculous splash landing of Flight 1549 by flying from Laguardia to Charlotte, North Carolina this afternoon, it turns out that Sully had to get to NYC some how. And that was by flying Flight 1050 from Charlotte to LGA at 7:55 a.m! The Daily News had a reporter and photographer onboard for the scoop.

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who captured the hearts of many when he safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, says that he's ready to fly planes once again. He said yesterday, in a statement from US Airways, "The months since January 15 have been very full, and my family and I have had some unforgettable experiences. However, I have missed working with my colleagues at US Airways and I am eager to get back in the cockpit with my fellow pilots in the months ahead. In my new role, I will continue to be the same kind of advocate for aviation safety that I have been for several decades."

The Humane Society of the United States has weighed in on New York City's—and the Port Authority's—plan to cull/kill/gas 2,000 geese. The city perceives the geese as a threat to airline safety, given that geese took down US Airways Flight 1549 (Mayor Bloomberg reiterated on his radio show, "We're trying to strike a balance. In the safety of flying, the public trumps the rights of the geese"), but the Humane Society says, "The best and most lasting solution to secure the safety of air travelers as well as preserve wildlife is to reduce the attractiveness of airport-vicinity open space to animals such as waterfowl and to limit access to other creatures."

In other Flight 1549 news, the city and Port Authority are embarking on a plan to kill at least 2,000 pesky Canada geese living within 5 miles of airports. Mayor Bloomberg said, "The serious dangers that Canada geese pose to aviation became all too clear when geese struck US Airways Flight 1549. The incident served as a catalyst to strengthen our efforts in removing geese from - and discouraging them from nesting on - city property near our runways."

While Miracle on the Hudson hero Captain Chesley Sullenberger hasn't been flying planes since splash landing US Airways Flight 1549 into the river back in January, he has been working on his media strategy. Last month, it was announced he was writing two books for HarperCollins' William Morrow imprint. The deal is reportedly worth $3.2 million and one book will be based on "the important lessons that helped him become the man and pilot he is today, including his boyhood, his military service, and the fateful emergency landing" (planned for later this year) and the other's subject is to be determined. Now TLC says it has interviewed Sully for a one-hour documentary—titled "Brace for Impact"—which will air sometime before next January. Till then, you can sate your Sully addiction by watching his and the Flight 1549 crew's 60 Minutes interview again.

The Flight 1549 crew received a standing ovation before they testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The crew members, Captain Chesley B Sullenberger III, First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, flight attendant Sheila Dail, flight attendant Donna Dent, flight attendant Doreen Welsh, appeared before the committee alongside LaGuardia air traffic controller Patrick Harten, who gave his first statement about the flight that eventually splash-landed into the Hudson River with everyonen surviving.

After the Smithsonian's analysis of feathers and organic material left in the engines of US Airways Flight 1549, the National Transportation Safety Board said a flock of Canada geese did hit the plane on January 15. With its engines compromised, the Airbus A320 was then forced to land in the Hudson River, with all passengers and crew surviving. However, the NY Times reports it's unclear whether the birds were migratory birds or more native ones from the NY area: "Those that migrate typically weigh from 6 pounds to nearly 11 pounds, the safety board said, but nonmigrating geese are fatter and 'can exceed published records.' Either kind is too much for the engines to handle, however." The NY Post, which basically called war on Canada geese, seems pleased with the identification.

Last night, 60 Minutes aired interviews with Flight 1549's pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, as well as the Flight 1549 crew—Sullenberger with co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles and flight attendants Donna Dent, Sheila Dail and Doreen Welsh. Sullenberger said, "It was a normal climb out in every regard," then "Birds, filling the entire windscreen, from top to bottom, left to right, large birds, close, too close to avoid." He soon smelled the burned bird and then engines failed, "It was obvious to me from the moment that we lost the thrust that this was a critical situation. Losing thrust on both engines, at a low speed, at a low altitude, over one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Yes, I knew it was a very challenging situation."

The National Transportation Safety Board has begun to inspect the left engine from US Airways Flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River on January 15, after its engines failed. Investigator Robert Benzon said, "We'll see how it was affected by bird strike." The engine had been lodged in the Hudson and was found by sonar—the NY Times says readings found "cone-shaped object at the end of what looked like a long skid mark, roughly in line with 52nd Street."

After more than a week in the Hudson, the left engine of US Airways Flight 1549 was lifted from the river. The AP reports, "Shards of metal and wiring are hanging out of it and a large portion of the outer shell is missing. It didn't appear to be leaking any oil or fuel, though a steady stream of water gushed from it as it was lifted up." It's believed the plane's engines failed after a bird strike—and, according to the Post, "Air Force brass yesterday offered to give New York one of its cutting-edge bird-detecting radar systems." DeTect Inc. says, "I'm convinced that if La Guardia Airport had one of these radar systems, it would have detected the geese and alerted the controllers and pilot in time to avoid the collision." The Air Force system would go to LGA, since JFK Airport is already getting ready to test one.

Almost a week after US Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River, NYPD divers have found the missing left engine in the waters. According to Newsday, the divers "discovered the engine about 3 p.m. in the middle of the river about 60 feet deep...The NYPD divers had been held back for three days because of heavy ice floes after sonar located a large object on the river bottom on Sunday." The U.S Army Corps of Engineers will assist in lifting the engine

Leave it to TMZ to get apparently the first post-Miracle on the Hudson photo of Captain Chesley Sullenberger. The gossip website reports, "The most famous pilot on the planet made his first public appearance in D.C. last night, at a low-key dinner with some members of his heroic flight crew and several passengers from Flight 1549. The name of the restaurant -- Hudson... Seriously." Ha! Sullenberger also greeted various admirers—and "As if to take revenge on the birds that brought down his jet, Sully dined on buttermilk fried chicken." Sullenberger and the crew were in D.C. for the inauguration; in his hometown of Danville, California, the mayor is planning a "welcome home" event (the Governator is invited, too!) for the pilot. We hope he makes his way back to NYC for Mayor Bloomberg to give him that key to the city, too.

According to CNN, passengers, apparently on the same plane as last Thursday's Flight 1549, "heard a series of loud bangs and the flight crew told them they could have to make an emergency landing." Last Thursday, US Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River after its engines failed, apparently after a bird strike.

Passenger Steve Jeffrey of Charlotte, North Carolina, told CNN he was flying in first class Tuesday when, about 20 minutes into the flight, "it sounded like the wing was just snapping off."

Continue reading "Flight 1549 Plane Previously Had Problems"

We know that Captain Chesley Sullenberger did a great job and how co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles gave the shirt off his back to a passenger...but did you know Flight 1549's flight attendants Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh and Donna Dent have a combined 92 years of experience among them? Passenger Billy Campbell said another passenger had opened a rear door, but Welsh was quick to close it so the water would stop coming in: "The flight attendant then made a great call and said, 'Turn around, you've got to get out on the wing.'" The crew wants to remain under the radar, so to speak: They want the media to "respect their desire to refrain from participating in interviews until further notice" during the NTSB's investigation. They also give their "sincere thanks and appreciation for the overwhelming support, praise and well wishes they have received from the public around the world."

Investigators say that Flight 1549 lost both its engines' power at the same time on Thursday afternoon. The US Airways Airbus A320 ended up in the Hudson River after an apparent bird strike.

Legions of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberg fans—not to mention the plain, ol' curious—were disappointed with news that the Flight 1549 pilot's interview with the Today Show was canceled. The interview was eagerly anticipated—the public's first chance to hear from the heroic pilot who made an incredible landing into the Hudson—but the U.S. Airline Pilots Association requested the interview be canceled and it's unclear whether it will be rescheduled. But there will be plenty of opportunities for Sullenberger: PR guru Howard Rubenstein told the Times that the former Air Force fighter pilot is a "publicist’s dream" (Rubenstein also envisioned lucrative book deals, movie pitches and product endorsements in his future"). Sullenberger and his family are headed to D.C. for the inauguration—and we envision that in a few days, his Facebook page will hit 500,000 fans.

       

US Airways Flight 1549 was removed from the Hudson River yesterday, and the National Transportation Safety Board said that they had recovered both black boxes—the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. The two recorders (flight data recorder pictured below) were taken to Washington D.C. for analysis.

       

Evening Update: Scroll down for additional video footage of the landing.

The NY Post has found a villain in the Miracle on the Hudson story, and it's Canada geese!

Yesterday's crash of a U.S. Airways Airbus A320 into the Hudson River is being hailed as a "Miracle on the Hudson"—TM Governor Paterson—considering that no one was killed (the most serious injury may be one passenger's broken legs). The federal Department of Transportation is in lower Manhattan, as is a National Transportation Safety Board team, to begin the investigation; they will try to recover the plane's black box.

As everyone continues to marvel how all 155 passengers and crew members were rescued from the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson River, they are ready to call Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger a hero.

                     

Reports are coming in that a plane has crashed in the Hudson River, between Piers 88 and 92 (West 48th-West 52nd Streets; U.S.S. Intrepid is at Pier 86). The newscasts are reporting that it's a US Airways (twin-engine) flight.